Soon, windmill project in Jaisalmer to power trains

JAISALMER: Now, trains in state are set to run on wind energy. To promote non-conventional energy sources, the Railways with an investment of Rs 160 crore has set up wind power project at Dangri village at Fatehgarh sub-division of Jaisalmer district.

The 25MW project is ready for generating power and is likely to be inaugurated by Union rail minister Suresh Prabhu on November 22.

According to high official sources of railway electrical section, the Union rail ministry to reduce diesel consumption and fuel expenses, is working on an action plan for running engines and trains on non-conventional power. In the next five years, the rail ministry will set up around 1000MW solar power projects and a large number of windmill units.

For the purpose, the rail ministry's associate company IRCTC has set up a new firm Railway Energy Management Company (REMC). The firm is working on setting up solar power project and windmill projects and is inviting tenders from the private sector. Railway will be signing MoUs with these companies to purchase power at cheaper rates for 25 years.

As per sources, at present around Rs 20,000 crore is being spent on fuel, whereas the expense on power is just half and looking to this, more emphasis is being given to electrification of railway lines. With the possibility of increased power consumption, efforts have been started to set up power projects involving non-conventional sources. In this regard, the railway board last year on January 24, 2014, had issued orders to set up windmill projects of 25MW.

NWR CPRO-cum-DGM Tarun Jain said, "an agreement was signed with Inox infrastructure company on December 18, 2014, for setting up windmill power project of 25MW in Dangri area at Fatehgarh sub-division in Jaisalmer and now this project is complete". Around 13 windmill poles have been set up in this project and now these windmill units have started generating power, he said.

Jain said union rail minister suresh prabhu is expected to inaugurate this project on nov 22. Detailed programme and confirmation is yet to receive, but preparations have been started for this expected programme.